Railway journal lubricator



Dec. 5, 1939. J. J. HENNESSY RAILWAY JOURNAL LUBRI CATOR Filed Dec. 16,1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l I: T A d .n 1|.IFLIEkE. M L ,7 m." I/ u FFML 0 7 Jv. y f m 1 w n I 4 J7;

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Dec. 5, 1939. J. J. HENNESSY 2,132,205

RAILWAY JOURNAL LUBRICATQR Filed Dec. 16, 1956 2 Sheets-$heet 2 PatentedDec. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 Claims.

The invention relates to railway journal lubricators of the type whichutilize the transverse motion of the journal in the journal box toactuate a mechanical pump to supply lubricant from a reservoir at thebottom of the box to the journal, preferably through a distributoradapted to spread the lubricant over a substantial area of the journal.

It is difiicult to insert a device of substantial size into an ordinaryoutside bearing box, the floor of which extends beneath the journal andthen upwardly and outwardly beyond the end of the journal to an openingwhich is above the level of the bottom of the journal. The main objectof the present invention is to construct a device of the class describedso that it may be readily applied to and removed from a journal box andbeneath the journal without removing the journal box from the journal.

It is a more detailed object of the invention to form in relativelyshort sections a distributor large enough to apply lubricant to theentire length of the journal, there being structure whereby all thesections when in operative position may function as a single unit.

Another detailed object is to provide substantial pumping capacitywithout necessarily using a large diameter or long stroke pump. Therebythe size of the pump structure may be kept, small enough to permit thepump section to be readily applied to and removed from the box with thejournal in normal position therein.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the construction andrender it economical so that the device may have commercialpossibilities, a low first and maintenance cost and ease of installationbeing requisite for any device which is intended for use in largequantities on railway rolling stock.

These and other detail objects of the invention which will appear fromthe following description are attained by the structure illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an individual verticalsection through an ordinary American Association of Railroads journalbox and a lubricating device embodying the invention, the section beingtaken on the line l-l of Figure 3 and the journal being illustrated inbroken lines.

Figure 2 is a section through the box taken on a plane at one side ofthe plane of the section shown in Figure 1 and showing the journal andmost of the lubricator in side elevation although a part of thelubricator is sectioned as on the line 2-2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 3-3 ofFigure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail horizontal section through the pump structure andis taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a top view of the central unit of the lubricant distributor.

Figure 6 is largely a diagrammatic illustration indicating the manner ofapplication and removal of the device.

Figure 7 is a detail horizontal section taken through the adjacentcorners of the sides of the individual members of a modified structure.

The journal I and box 2 are of usual standardized construction and areillustrated in the relative position assumed when the box is applied tothe journal with the usual bearing and wedge (not shown). The box fiooror bottom 3 curves forwardly and upwardly at 4 to the end opening 5normally closed by a spring pressed door (not shown). The outer end ofthe journal includes the usual collar 6 provided for retaining thebearing and wedge in place and the rear end of the box has the usualpocket 1 for a dust guard (not shown) which also serves as a retainerfor lubricant tending to flow inwardly from the journal or to besplashed upwardly from the bottom of the box. The bottom of the boxserves as a reservoir for lubricant L which may be poured therein to thelevel indicated.

The body of the lubricant device comprises a plurality of pan-likesections ll, 12 and I3, each including a flat bottom l4, upright endsIS, with their upper edges conforming to the contour of the bearing, andside walls It extending upwardly a substantial distance above the bottomof the bearing.

Attached to each body section are springs 11 adapted normally to supportthe body section at the desired height but also adapted to be compressedas indicated at l 8 (Figure 6) to permit the body member to be passedbetween the lower outer corner of the journal and the adjacent portionof the box floor.

The upper corners of body section side walls adjacent to each other aremovably connected to each other so that each section may be movedrelative to the adjacent section as indicated, for example, in Figure 6.This connection may take the form of a lug 19 fixed to one side wall andpivoted to the adjacent side wall. Attached to the end walls of thecenter body section l2 are arcuate gaskets 20 which function, when theparts are in the position shown in Figure 1, to form a' substantial sealbetween section l2 and sections I! and I3 to prevent too rapid a flow ofoil out of the sections downwardly into the crevices be-. tween them.

Carried by center section I 2 is a lubricant pump body 2|. This may beformed separately from the sheet metal pan section and secured theretoas shown in Figure 3, or may be readily formed as an integral part ofthe latter if the section is cast.

Body 2! preferably includes a pair of pump cylinders 22 (Figure 4),individual inlet passages 23 therefor, and individual discharge passages24 leading to an outlet 25 at the base of an upwardly extending hollowboss 26 (Figure 1). A distributor plate 27 has a hollow sleeve fittingover boss 26 and is yieldingly supported on the pump body by a spring 28so as to be thrust upwardly into contact with journal I Plate 2'! may bemade of cruciform contour (Figure 5) with grooves 29 and til leadingdirectly from the central lubricant receiving well 3| to permit freeflow of lubricant pumped by the distributor pump directly to extendedportions of the journal. Legs of the plate extending longitudinally ofthe journal are corruated at each side of groove 29, as indicated at 32,.to facilitate the distribution of the lubricant.

Surrounding plate 27 are a plurality of felt pads 33 disposed verticallywith their lower edges resting on the bottom of plate 21 and with theirupper edges cut arcuately to fit the lower face of journal I. Similarpads 34 in sections H and I3 cooperate with pads 33 to distribute theoil by capillary attraction substantially throughout the length of thebearing engaging portion of the journal and for a substantial portion ofits width.

Obviously the oil distributed by the felt pads comprises the surplusflowing from the ends of the grooves 29 and M or spreading along thesurface of the journal beyond the body of plate 21. The pads are held inplace in their respective sections by wires, as indicated at 56, Figure3.

Individual pump pistons 35 are reciprocated in cylinders 22 by a commoncross bar 36 which is moved to the left by spring-pressed plunger 37having a stem 33 slidably in a recess 39 in pump body 2|. Bar 36 ismoved to the right by a actuator 48 slidably mounted on the bottom ofsection I! and impelled by element 49 arranged to contact with thevertical faces of journal collar 6.

Depending from nipples 42 on the pump body are intake elements d3,preferably of rubber or fabric to provide flexibility and having theirlower ends enclosed with screens M. Check valves 45 and it are locatedin the intake and discharge passages, respectively.

As the journal plays back and forth in the box, pump pistons 35 arereciprocated in the pump cylinders to draw lubricant from the reservoirthrough intakes it into the pump body and to discharge it therefromthrough conduit 26 to the distributor plate and the journal.

The springs normally have sufiicient frictional contact with the boxbottom 3 to hold the lubri cator stationary but in the event the initialplacing of the lubricator is too far to the front or the rear, or in theevent of any unusual longitudinal movement of the journal beyond therange of the pump stroke, the lubricator may be moved bodilyWithout'injury as there is no positive engagement of any of its parts toprevent such movement.

It will be apparent from the above description that the device issusceptible to economical manufacturing processes; is readily applied toand re moved from the operating position in the journal box, and isadapted to use in journal boxes of varying depth and with varyingdiameters of journals.

By using two pump cylinders and pistons as illustrated, the pump bodymay be made of re duced depth to accommodate the restricted clearancebetween the journal and the box when the device is applied and removed,and at the same time maintaining adequate pump capacity. It Will beunderstood the duplicate pump structure is not essential to theinvention.

The body sections may be joined by pin and slot connections instead ofthe pivotal connections shown, and it is not important that the sectionsbe permanently assembled. It is desirable, however, that they areprovided withsome form of retention means to hold them assembled as aunit when they are in operative position.

Figure 7 illustrates a modification in which one section 50 includes anoifset corner having a circular lug -52, arranged to slide over andinterengage with and pivot in a cooperating recess 53 in the nextsection 5 whereby the parts may be yieldingly maintained in assembledrelation during operation yet may be readily disassembled forapplication and removal to and from the box.

These and other variations in the structure may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and the exclusive use of suchmodifications as come within the scope of the claims is contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, a lubricant retainer anddistributor for application to a railway axle journal and comprising aplurality of interconnected sections with journal engaging surfacesalined with each other longitudinally of the device 'when'the sectionsare in functioning position and constructed to be moved out of suchalinement to facilitate application to and removal 7 from the usualjournal and journal box assembly in which the lower edge of the boxopening is above the level of the bottom of the journal, adjacentsections being provided with elements substantially sealing the spacesbetween the sections to form a single pan-like unit for liquidlubricant.

2. In a device of the class described, a lubricantdistributor forapplication to a railway axle journal and comprising a plurality oflubricant retaining and distributing elements normally arranged Withtheir journal contacting surfaces in a straight line longitudinally ofthe device, rigid sections mounting said elements and pivoted'to eachother to provide for angular relation between the sections toaccommodateinsertion and removal of the device to and from a journal boxthrough a space too restricted to accommodate the passage of thedistributing elements in their normal functioning relation, saldsections being provided with intermediate gaskets forming seals betweenadjacent sections whereby a pan-like unit is formed to retain liquidlubricant and to prevent free flow of oil downwardly between saidsections.

3. In a device of the class described, a plurality of sections havinglubricant distributing material and hinged to each other to form alongitudinally straight lubricant distributing surface from end to endof the device and to swing into angular relationship to facilitateapplication and removal of the device to and from the journal andjournal box, a lubricant pump carried by one of said sections, and apump operating member carried on another of said sections, the mountingof said pump and member being independent of each other.

4. In a device of the class described, a plurality of sections having.lubricant distributing material and hinged to each other to form alongitudinally straight lubricant distributing surface from end to endof the device and .to swing int'o angular relationship to facilitateapplication and removal of the device to and from the journal andjournal box, a lubricant pump cylinder and piston carried by one of saidsections, and a piston operating member carried by another of saidsections, said cylinder and piston and said member being mounted on therespec tive sections independently of each other and movable with theirsections into and out of cooperating relationship.

5. In a device of the class described, a plurality of sections movablysecured to each other and constructed and arranged to fit around thelower portion of a railway axle journal, yielding means for supportingsaid sections spaced substantially from the bottom of a box applied tosaid journal, a lubricant pump structure carried by one of saidsections, an intake structure depending from and freely movable relativeto said pump structure, and a pump actuating structure carried by one ofsaid sections.

6. A device as described in claim 5 in which some of the structure ismounted on one of the sections and some of the structure isindependently mounted on another of the sections.

'7. In a device of the class described, a panlike member shaped to fitaround the lower portion of a railway axle journal, lubricantdistributing material therein, means for yieldingly supporting saidmember a substantial distance above the floor of a journal box carriedon said journal, an element mounted to slide on said memberlongitudinally of said journal and projecting outwardly from said memberand arranged to engage a vertically disposed surface on said journal andto be moved thereby, another member provided with a pump and movablyattached to said first mentioned member so as to assume a positionrelative thereto to place said pump and element in predeterminedrelation, there being an operative connection between said pump andelement, said membersbeing movable into an angular relation with eachother to facilitate application to and removal from the journal andjournal box, the structure including means yieldingly holding saidmembers in pump operating relation.

8. In a device of the class described, a plurality of pan-like lubricantretaining sections each having a bottom arranged to underlie a railwayjournal and having upstanding ends with their upper edges shaped tocorrespond to the lower portion of the journal cross-section contour andhaving upstanding sides arranged to extend parallel with the journal,said sections being arranged end to end, a pivotal connection betweenthe upper corner of one of said sides on one of said sections and theadjacent upper corner of the corresponding side of another of saidsections, and means carried by said sections for mechanically pumpinglubricant to said journal.

9. In a device of the class described, a plurality of sections havinglubricant distributing material and hinged to each other to form alongitudinally straight lubricant distributing surface from end to endof the device and to swing into angular relationship to facilitateapplication and removal of the device to and from the journal andjournal box, a lubricant pump cylinder and piston carried by one of saidsections with the outer end of said piston terminating substantiallyabreast of the end of said section, and a piston operating membercarried by another of said sections with the end of said memberterminating adjacent to the corresponding end of said latter mentionedsection,

said ends of said piston and said member being juxtaposed when saidsections cooperate to form a straight-line lubricant-distributingsurface.

10. In a device of the class described, a panlike member shaped to fitaround the lower portion of a railway axle journal, lubricantdistributing material therein, means for yieldingly supporting saidmember a substantial distance above the floor of a journal box carriedon said journal, a pair of pump cylinders arranged abreast of each otherhorizontally carried by said member, pistons therein, means foractuating said pistons by the lateral play of the journal in the box,and pump intake structure depending from said member to enter lubricantinto the bottom of the box and movable relative to said member in avertical plane.

11. In a device of the class described, a panlike member shaped to fitaround the lower portion of a railway axle journal, lubricantdistributing material therein, means for yieldingly supporting saidmember a substantial distance above the floor of a journal box carriedon said journal, a pair of pump cylinders arranged abreast of each otherhorizontally carried by said member, pistons therein, a single deviceadapted to be engaged by a vertical surface on the journal to be movedlengthwise of the journal as the latter plays in the box, and aconnection between said device and both of said pistons for actuatingthe latter.

12. In a device of the class described, body structure comprising hingedsections each having yielding supporting means arranged for mountingupon the floor of a journal box, a pump including a cylinder formed inone of said sections and an intake passage to said cylinder and adischarge passage from said cylinder and a piston in said cylinder, anda piston actuating member movably mounted in another of said sectionsand arranged to engage opposite sides of a journal collar forreciprocatory movement of said member relative to said body as thejournal plays in the box.

13. In a device of the class described, a lubricant distributor forapplication to a railway axle journal and comprising a plurality ofseparately formed sections movably assembled with each other, eachsection containing individual lubricant distributing elements movable toand from each other during the application and removal of the device toand from a box, there being means between said sections substantiallysealing the latter from the loss of lubricant therebetween when thesections are in functioning position.

14. In a device of the class described, a plurality of sections havinglubricant distributing material and adapted when placed in a contiguousposition to form a longitudinally straight lubricant distributingsurface substantially continuous from end to end of the device, saidsections beingconstructed and arranged to move into relative angularrelationship to facilitate application and removal of the device to andfrom the journal and journal box, a. lubricant pump carried by one ofsaid sections, and a- JAS. J. HENNESSY.

